Background

History
The University of Central Arkansas is a public institution, situated on a 262-acre campus in Conway. Located in the geographical center of the state, UCA prides itself as the “Center of Learning.” The university was established in 1907 as the state's only teacher-training Normal School. Within a year, it opened its doors with 107 students and 7 faculty members teaching mathematics, English, drawing, science, agriculture, history, music, reading, and Latin. Today, UCA is a comprehensive institution with over 12,000 students enrolled in 74 undergraduate, 32 master's, and 4 doctoral programs. The city of Conway is home to 3 institutions of higher learning and 52,000 residents.

Project Description
The University of Central Arkansas is sponsoring a public art project for Alumni Circle as part of its centennial celebration.  A national design competition was launched January 1, 2007 inviting artists, working in all media, to submit a résumé and examples of their past work.

The goal of this project is to transform Alumni Circle into a pedestrian plaza that is interactive in function and aesthetically pleasing in design.  The theme of the artwork will reference the history and traditions of the institution, highlight current achievements, and articulate the centennial theme: “New Vision, New Century.”

Competition Process
The deadline for submissions was March 16, 2007.  One hundred and forty-nine artists from thirty-two states entered the competition.
(click here to see the breakdown of entries by state)

Alumni Circle Selection Panel
A nine-member selection panel, consisting of art professionals, Public Art Committee members, and UCA faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and students, reviewed the proposals and selected the finalists.

Nan Plummer, Chair Arkansas Arts Center, Director Art Professional	Dennis Strom UCA Physical Plant, Grounds Project Coordinator Staff Representative
Helen Phillips UCA Art Professor, retired Art Professional	Jack Gillean Vice President for Administration Administrator
Barbara Satterfield UCA Baum Gallery Director Public Art Committee	Brenda Turner Art Coordinator, Arkansas Department of Education Alumni Representative
Jeff Young UCA Art Department, Chair Public Art Committee	Anna Sebourn UCA Student, Art History Major Student Representative
Kim McCullough UCA Speech-Language Pathology Faculty Representative

Student Advisory Panel
A Student Advisory Panel also evaluated the submissions and made recommendations to the student representative on the Selection Panel.

Anna Sebourn (Committee Chair) Art History	Kayce Johnson Psychology
Kaylon Bradford Students for the Propagation of Black Culture	Pam Johnson Residential Colleges
Vickie Cross Residence Hall Association	Omar Karaman UCAN Program
Sarah Crouch Honors College	Lena Murfin Art
Jonelle Doughty Writing	Brittny Taylor Greek Life
Rebekah Gardner Political Science and Public Relations	Drew Williams Greek Life
Christine Gifford Non-Traditional